Mercedes McNab

Mercedes McNab is a lovely, talented actress who is best known for playing the role of Harmony Kendall in the television shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. (Ever since 1999 that character has been a souless, evil vampire, before that Harmony was a stuck up cheerleader.) It is interesting to note that originally Mercedes tried for the part of Buffy in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but was turned away in favor of Sarah Michelle Gellar. However, like other actresses who tried out for Buffy and failed, she was picked to play another role as consolation. (This also happened to Charisma Carpenter, who got to play "Cordelia," who became a starring character in Angel.)

She was born Mercedes Alicia McNab in Los Angeles, California on the 21st of March, 1980. She has been acting since she was a mere 10 years old. Her father, Bob McNab, was in the Arsenal Football Club's league and won the FA cup in 1971. Her first television and movie roles came in 1991. She guest starred on the syndicated Harry and the Hendersons and appeared along with Anjelica Huston, Christina Ricci, and the late Raul Julia in the motion picture adaption of the classic TV series The Addams Family (as a Girl Scout). Mercedes became a regular guest star on Buffy's spin offAngel as the cheerleader-turned-vampire Harmony. She appeared in 18 of the 22 episodes in Angel's fifth and final season. She worked along side David Boreanaz ("Angel") and James Marsters ("Spike").

Mercedes' character Harmony had, as it turns out, a history with the character Spike going back to the Buffy days when they dated. In real life, though, the two never dated, although they thought about it once. In a recent interview for the website Zap2it, Mercedes talked about being surprised at James Marster's age (he turned 41 in 2003).

"I had no idea he was that old. Oh, my gosh, I had no idea. That's hysterical. I always thought he was in his late 20s, early 30s. At least he looks young for his age."

Before her regular role came up in Angel in 2003 (she was even added to the opening credits for the final four episodes of the show), her dream was to actually be on her favorite show, Law & Order. Unfortunately, the show was on hiatus when she attempted to get on it.

"I was so bummed," she said, "because I was like, 'You know how they start with that dead person on the floor? I'll do that.'"

Maybe Mercedes, in real life, isn't vastly different than the Valley-girl turned undeaddemon she plays on TV?

Below is a complete filmography of Mercedes McNab provided by the always useful websie Imdb.com

For the final six episodes of Angel, "Underneath" (4/14/04), "Origin" 4/21/04, "Time Bomb" 4/28/04, "The Girl in Question" 5/5/04, "Power Play" 5/12/04, and "Not Fade Away" (5/22/04) she is added to opening credits and is not a guest star.